Ongoing rubella outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, March-July 2009 - preliminary report

A Novo; J M Huebschen; C P Muller; M Tesanovic; J Bojanic

doi:10.2807/ese.14.39.19343-en

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Ongoing rubella outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, March-July 2009 - preliminary report
A Novo¹ , J M Huebschen² , C P Muller² , M Tesanovic³ , J Bojanic³
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Affiliations: ¹ WHO Country Office for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina ² Institute of Immunology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Measles Infections, WHO European Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, National Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Luxembourg ³ Public Health Institute Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Correspondence:
A Novo
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Citation style for this article: Novo A, Huebschen J M, Muller C P, Tesanovic M, Bojanic J. Ongoing rubella outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, March-July 2009 - preliminary report. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(39):pii=19343. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.14.39.19343-en Received: 29 Sept 2009

Abstract

Between 24 March and 31 July 2009, 342 clinically diagnosed cases of rubella were notified in five municipalities in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fourteen cases were laboratory-confirmed by positive IgG against rubella virus. Four virus isolates were obtained and identified as genotype 2B strains, with one isolate differing by a single mutation in the region of the E1 gene. This ongoing outbreak revealed gaps in the immunisation programme during the war in BiH (1992-1995) and highlights the need to revise legislation to permit immunisation of children above 14 years of age with measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and to introduce supplemental immunisation activities.